Tile Adhesive Recommendations Needed

[Bud Cline]

Just trying to make a few suggestions that may help to salvage a job that has already headed down the wrong path from the git go.

[stullis]

I know Bud, that's why I said " Might as well use the OmniGrip for the floor too. "

The OmniGrip will probably allow for even greater movement.

[Bud Cline]

"Omnigrip" is not something I'm familiar with. I go with what I know and have experience with and confidence in.

[jdp]

Okay guys,

Knock off the bickering. OmniGrip is a mastic (?), ready to go tile adhesive - compressible. I am not using it - it doesn't set up in New England. I'm going with VersaBond, based on Bud's recommendation.

Downhill - I don't think so. The BB is adhered to the concrete of my basement with a mastic - the compression is what I counted on. I successfully got 2 screws in place before losing patience -both in a closet, both where no man shall go before or after. So any probs cause by the screwing (shards, gaps, et al) are .01 of a problem.

Therefore, the BB is as flush to the floor in ALL places, no sags, no ripples, no nothing.

My hub and I laid the entire tile today in a practice run (thankfully, my neighbor had a wet saw to borrow). We walked on it as such ALL day - no problems, no breakage, no nothing. Certainly there is a bit of rocking with somes of them, but with the mortar and persuasion, once set, those that rock now won't.

BTW, the shift you guys mention - the house was built 16 years ago. I have a HAIRLINE crack as a result of any shift. It has been there forever and has not progressed any. I am not in an area prone to quakes (New Hampshire). When the big one hits, I'm sure the basement tile will be the least that I will be worrying about.

On another board, someone with 20-30 years experience doing this stuff posted he put BB on linoleum, not really attaching properly - did not reinforce the seams, et al. Broke all the rule in the book as he knows now. Here is what he wrote:

"The cards are against you, but the first time I ever saw cement backer board (15-18yrs ago ) I said duh!!!! whats this??? I`m use to plywood!!I put it down in a 400ft kitchen/dinning area ,over vinyl with construction adhesive & sheetrock screws, & did not re fasten the vinyl & luan to the subfloor or tape & mud my seams ,& guess where I went 3 months ago???? Ok ya only get one guess! Yep back to that house to do an addition & not one visible crack any where . There have been many days over the last 10 yrs or so that I`ve thought about that job knowing what I know now & how I broke all the rules & it still survived by sheer luck & a whole lot of faith ."

I've combined faith with common sense. I do have concerns about the use of the chosen adhesives under the BB - but with the amount of walls and such to keep it in place, I'm feeling pretty good about.

I'll post picture of it when it's done.

Whatever you do - DO NOT USE OMNIGRIP! This is the worst tile adhesive out there. It just never seemed to dry and the tiles all started cracking! The company should be ashamed of themselves as should the workers at Home Depot that recommended this horrible product. I would rather burn my money than do another tile job using this adhesive. Save your money!